The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-06
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
RENOVATION OF THE WHITE
HOUSE GOING ON.

been brushed away and spiders driven in
terror from their lairs; carpets have been
torn up and shaken and BEATEN curtains
and old clothes have been carefully packed
away in camphor and drugs, "where moth
and rust doth not corrupt, and thieves do
not break through and steal;" marble slabs,
floors and furniture have been industriously
and vigorously secured by many brawny
arm until, when the President returns, he
viii miss many old landmarks. The
Green, Blue and Red parlors have
been deprived of their carpets, and
mating has been substituted. The Blue
room carpet, upon which the lannon's we'd
ding took place, has seen its last days of
service. A designer from New York has
made design for a new moquette carpet
for that apartment. 1t will be of blue
shading from indigo to robins egg, to cor
respond with the Tiffany frescoes of the
walls, and sprayed with delicate flowers.
Mrs. Cleveland superintendent the arrange
ment of this design, and the carpet is now
being made, but will not be laid until
autumn. The East room carpet will retain
its place during the summer, and in the
autumn it will be superseded by an AK
minister carpet of a creamy and gold
ground, to harmonic with the walls and
CelllnS, anu CONeTtu Wlun inter-
twining sprays of fern. The silk covers of
the East Room furniture will be replaced
with plush, and the furniture of the Green
parlor will be covered
THE NEW TREASURY VAULT
The Treasury Department is now at work
on what is undoubtedly the largest single
zsmoney vault in the world. 1t will hold,
swhen full, 500, 600, 600 in silver dollars 1t
Twill be in the north court of the department,
1.-THE massive walls of the building concealing
THAT court from outside observation, but,
3 even were the court visible from the street,
& nothing could be seen of the vault, as it will
< be only a few inches above the level of the
Il ground and will be covered with turf. Con-
gress authorized the building of the vault at
#the last session and the contract for the
s hrickwork has been let at a cost of $1,000
s II will be SO feet long by so feet wide, and
81 III feet inches high, inside dimensions
s. The walls surrounding this treasure house
will be feet inches thick, the foundations
a being carried down feet below the vault
level and resting on a bed of concrete 6
iGches thick. 1t was originally intended to
Nf1oor the concrete with iron to prevent tun-
s. melting, but the limited appropriation was
81 not sufficient to cover the increased cost,
and, besides, it was not considered absolutely
necessary, as to tunnel the vault the thieves
would have to work right through the walls
& Of the department. The vault itself is di-
yided into two sections by longitudinal
corridor, each section being, again
20 feet The cells are divided
from each other and the corridor
by an iron latticework, one and half by
zone-half inches, the top covered in the same
way, the roof being solid brick arches set in
eement with flooring of concrete. If an
enterprising burglar should try to effect an
Entrance by way of the Treasury Depart
.H%1art ha yynf1ld have n fQraa m dfD.A,.
bver eight feet square and four feet thick,
which shuts off the building from the court
Eard, then the vault has two heavy doors
Ii has its own door. The archi-
hat the vault Is fire and burg
nd it will be guarded from the
The Treasury watchmen. In
- he contract for the ironwork will
be let at an estimated cost of S15, 000 and the
vault will be ready for use by the middle of
September.
HOW SECRETARY WHITNEY GOT GRASS
LANDS"
A story is going the rounds of the manner
in which Secretary Whitney overcame the
ancestral pride of ownership which for some
time stood in the way of his purchase of the
delightful country place near Washington
known as "GrasSlands" from one of the old
time residents. The owner hesitated long
over the Secretary's tempting offer, .strug-
Cling with the tenacity peculiar to the old
Virginia planter in holding on to his patri-
lmonial estate. He was poor and in debt,
and it is said had about made up his
mind to continue TO exc out a trou-
bled existence rather than sacrifice
his cherished acres. Mr.. Whitney made up
his mind that he would give for the place,
consisting of los acres, $4,000 He
procured the amount in American eagles,
whose golden wings and standards and the
legend I'm God We Trust" standing out
depended upon by the astute Secretary to
work the change in the owners mind.
which would place Grasslands within his
ownership The golden eagles were placed
in bags and carried by the Secretary's faith
frl attendant. On arrival at the mansion
house the Secretary seated himself at ma
hogany table of the colonial era After a
few words of pleasant greeting he produced
the money, laying it upon the mahogany
board in manner that was irresistible. Be
fore sunset of that day "Grasslands' had
been conveyed to Mr.. Whitney. The an
Gent family seat has now been restored to 9
greater than its former splendor.
DISTINGUISHED woMAN's AFFAIRS.
Mrs Kate Chase will leave here in few
days on her return to France, We're hei
: Young daughters are at school. She has
Offered S150,000 for Edgewood, the
4 rated Chase homestead near the city
Syndicate of spectators, but has not
with them yet Her desire is TO re
I'll HE house and few acres surrounding
it, but the bid is for the entire place. Al
Mrs. Chases ready means are meagre she
will probably in the end find it necessary &c
part with the property. Senator Sherman
whose judgment about matters of business
is rated very high, is said to have interested
himself in the distinguished ladys affairs
very much to her qualification and that Of
her other friends. The advice she has here
tofore followed about financial matters has
been none of the best.
HE WANTED a PLACE
The following story is being extensively
circulated. II may or may not have founda
ton: Near the close of Che last reception the
President held before going on his fishing
trip animportant rlral-looking man, whose
appearance was indicative of an intimate
acquaintance with agricultural pursuits
rather than those of a sedentary nature
entered the East room, and pressing his way
quickly through the crowd, stood before the
President. Removing his hat with one hand
and bestowing hearty grip with the other,
he opened fire at once without dallying over
what he doubtless considered useless pre-
lnlinaries. Good morning, Mr.. Presi
DENT he said. ''rve come all the way from
TlIiy,nts IN eyat r,lara x,ottiva or,,t ~